Boat



Jan. 11, 1955 w, KETTLER 2,699,137

BOAT

Filed Jan. 8, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR- Wi/ cd K fiier Jan. 1 1, 1955 Filed Jan. 8 1951 w. A. KETTLER BOAT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 6G INVENTOR EYM/red /1.K72/er I, 80 73 t" E United States Patent BOAT Wilfred A. Kettler, St. Louis, Mo.

Application January 8, 1951, Serial No. 204,863

Claims. (Cl. 115-25) This invention relates to improvements in boats. More particularly this invention relates to improvements in apparatus for providing easy locomotion for boats.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved apparatus for providing easy locomotion of boats.

In the use of boats, it is frequently desirable to be able to cause the cause the boat to move through the water without requiring the use of ones hands. This is particularly desirable where one is casting or trolling for fish. In such instances, any time which must be devoted to rowing the boat with ones hands, means the diversion of ones hands and attention from the casting and trolling operation. Accordingly, there has been a demand for some time for apparatus which would permit locomotion of boats through the use of ones feet. In response to that demand, several constructions have been proposed. Most of those constructions were so bulky and inflexible that they did not go into use. Other of those constructions were too expensive to manufacture commercially, and were too difiicult to operate in use. For these various reasons, prior apparatus for providing locomotion of boats by .the use of ones feet are objectionable. The present invention obviates these objections by providing an improved apparatus for the easy locomotion of boats which is compact, inexpensive, and simple to operate. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for the easy locomotion of boats which is compact, inexpensive, and easy to operate.

The compactness of the apparatus provided by the present invention is assured by using oars which are equipped with two-piece shanks that can be disassembled for compact storage, and by using flexible connections between the oars and the pedals which are used to operate the oars. With such a construction, the entire boatpropelling apparatus can be stored within a container which is only two and one-half feet (2%) long and nine inches (9") across. Such a container will easily fit with a fishermans gear and can be transported readily. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a boat-propelling apparatus which has two-piece oars and which has flexible connections between the oars and the edals.

p The boat-propelling apparatus provided by the present invention has a lost-motion connection between the oars and the propelling apparatus. With such a construction, the boat will not be upset or overturned if an oar shoals. Instead, the oar can ride upwardly and still permit the boat to maintain its equilibrium. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for propelling boats which has a lost motion connection between the oars and the propelling mechanism.

Where the oars of the boat-propelling mechanism are to be operated by the users feet, it is customary to provide a spring that will move the oars through their return strokes. To facilitate the movement of the oars through their return strokes. without causing the boat to come to rest or reverse direction, the blades of the oars must be made to pivot. However. in prior boat-propelling mechanisms, the blades of the oars were required to pivot while wholly immersed in the water; and this requirement caused a considerable drag on the motion of the boat. The present invention obviates any such drag by raising the oars upwardly to the surface of the water before the blades of those oars must pivot. The present invention does this by providing springs that bias the oars upwardly for rotation about sub- 2,699,137 Patented Jan. 11, 1955 stantially horizontally disposed axes; such rotation raising at least part of the blades of the oars out of the water. In doing so, the springs make it easier for the water to pivot the blades relative to the shanks of the oars and thus eliminate much of the drag involved in the operation of the boat-propelling mechanism. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide oars which have blades pivoted relative to the shanks of the oars and which have springs biasing the oars for rotation upwardly around substantially horizontally disposed axes.

The blades of the oars provided by the present invention are inclined relative to the vertical. Those oars have their leading edges disposed at the lower edges of the blades, and therefore the oars dip downwardly into the water as they pass through their driving strokes. The springs which bias the oars upwardly around substantially horizontally disposed axes then largely free the oars from the water during their return strokes. In this way, full power is applied during the driving strokes, but very little power is wasted during the return strokes. Consequently, the boat moves forwardly with but little drag. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide oars for boat-propelling mechanisms wherein the blades of the oars are inclined to the vertical and will dip into the water on the driving strokes.

The boat-propelling mechanism provided by the present invention has an adjusting mechanism that permits the oars to be set at various depths in the water. This adjusting mechanism also enables the oars to reach the water when used with boats having different gunwale heights. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a boat-propelling apparatus which has an adjustment that permits setting of the oars at various heights.

The springs which are provided to rotate the oars upwardly around the horizontally disposed axes are held by a bracket which limits the movement of the springs to predetermined values. Consequently, the adjustment of the position of the oars will not materially vary the tension of those springs. Moreover, the springs themselves are formed so they become completely compressed and limit the movement of the oars down into the water. In this way, a tension of predetermined value is maintained on the springs at all times, and the movement of the oars down into the water is limited to a predetermined value. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a bracket for each of the springs which rotate the oars upwardly around the substantially horizontally disposed axes.

Other and further objects and advantages of the present invention should become apparent from an examination of the drawing and accompanying description.

In the drawing and accompanying description a preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown and described but it is to be understood that the drawing and accompanying description are for the purpose of illustration only and do not limit the invention and that the invention will be defined by the appended claims.

In the drawing, Fig. l is a plan view of the boat to which the boat-propelling apparatus provided by the present invention is attached, and it shows by dotted lines the sweep through which the oars of that apparatus can move,

Fig. 2 is a larger view of the blade and part of the shank of one of the oars of the boat-propelling apparatus provided by the present invention,

Fig. 3 is a front view of the boat and boat-propelling apparatus shown in Fig. 1,

Fig. 4 is a larger end elevational view of one of the llaraclets in the boat-propelling apparatus shown in Figs.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the bracket shown in Fig. 4, and it shows that bracket before the connecting chain and rivet are aflixed to the crank arm of that bracket, and

Fig. 6 is a larger plan view of the pedals and pivot bar used in the boat-propelling apparatus of Figs. 1 and 3.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the numeral 10 generally denotes a boat with which the boat-propelling apparatus provided by the present invention can be used. This boat need not have oar locks since the boat-propelling apparatus provided by the present invention is self sufficient. If the boat does have oar locks, those locks can be removed or the boat-propelling apparatus provided by the present invention must be secured to the boat at a point spaced from those oar locks.

The boat-propelling apparatus provided by the present invention includes two brackets which are denoted generally by the numeral 12. Each of the brackets 12 has a seating surface 14 which is dimensioned to rest upon and be supported by the gunwale of the boat 10. A seating surface 16, disposed at right angles to the seating surface 14, is also provided on bracket 12, and the seating surface 16 is dimensioned to rest against the exterior of the hull of the boat 10. A pressure plate 18 is provided which will engage the interior of the hull of the boat 10, and that pressure plate is in register with the seating surface 16 on bracket 12. The pressure plate is supported on a wing bolt 20 that is carried by the bracket 12. To mount the bracket 12 on the boat 10, it is only necessary to rotate the wing bolt 28 until the pressure plate 18 is backed away from the seating surface 16 a distance sufficient to receive the hull of the boat 10 and then to rotate the wing bolt 20 until the pressure plate 18 and the seating surface 16 snugly engage the interior and exterior of that hull, respectively. Where possible, the brackets 12 are disposed closely adjacent the seat of the boat 10.

Each of the brackets 12 has a bearing plate 22 adjacent the upper end thereof and each of the brackets 12 has a bearing plate 24 adjacent the lower end thereof. Plate 24 is longer than plate 22 so the opening in plate 24 can be displaced further from surface 16 than the opening in plate 22 is displaced. As a result, those openings define an axis which is inclined to surface 16 but which will be approximately vertical when bracket 12 is secured to the boats gunwale; surface 16 assuming the inclination of the gunwale but the relative angularity of said axis and said surface enabling said axis to be substantially vertical. This arrangement avoids undue variations in the levels the oars will seek in rotating around said axis.

The plate 24 has a plurality of vertically directed notches 26 disposed at its periphery. These notches extend around the outer end of plate 24.

A pivot 28 is held by plates 22 and 24, and a shoulder 29 on the upper end of that pivot rests upon the plate 22 to hold that pivot against downward movement. A pin 30 extends through an opening in the lower end of pivot 28 and confines that pivot against movement upwardly. Thus, pivot 28 is held in position while being free to rotate.

A crank arm 32 is formed 011 the pivot 28, and that crank arm extends outwardly from the pivot 28. Crank arm 32 has a slot 34 formed in the end thereof, and it has an opening 36 at that same end. Opening 36 is contiguous with slot 34, and is disposed at right angles to it. Slot 34 receives a flexible connector, shown in the form of chain 38, and opening 36 receives a rivet 40. Rivet 40 passes through one loop of chain 38 and connects that chain with crank arm 32.

Pivot 28 has a substantially horizontally disposed pivot 42 formed thereon; and an opening 44 is provided in the end of that pivot for a pin. Pivot 42 is approximately in register with the axis of pivot 28.

A helical spring 46 encircles the pivot 28 and has its upper end disposed within a transverse opening in that pivot. The lower end of that spring has a vertically directed portion which can fit within the notches 26 in the lower bearing plate 24 of the bracket 12. With this construction, the spring 46 resists rotation of the pivot 28 in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figs. 1 and 5. Accordingly, when the pivot 28 is rotated in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Figs. 1 and 5, energy will be stored within the spring 46, and if the pivot is then freed for return to its original position, the spring 46 will force it to so return to its original position. The spring 46 has a horizontally disposed tongue which can be used to grip the lower end of spring 46 and place it within any one of the notches 26 in the bearing plate 24. By setting the lower end of the spring 46 in the desired notch 26, it is possible to attain the desired rate of movement of pivot 28 during its return stroke.

The horizontally disposed pivot 42 extends through an opening at the inner end of the shank 48 of an oar. As a result, the shank 48 of the oar can rotate around a substantially horizontal axis, the pivot 42, and can rotate around a substantially vertically disposed axis, the pivot 28. The shank 48 of the oar is made in two pieces which suitably telescope together to form one elongated shank. The oar has a blade 50, and that blade is pivotally mounted by eyes 52 and a bracket 54. The bracket 54 is secured to the outer end of the shank 48 while the eyes 52 are secured to the blade 50. The eyes 52 and the bracket 54 constitute an eccentric pivot for the blade 50. The bracket 54 is so disposed relative to the shank 48 that the blade 50 will be inclined to the vertical. Moreover, the leading edge of the blade 50 will be the lower edge of that blade during the driving stroke of that oar. During the return stroke, the leading edge of the blade 50 will be the upper edge, and the trailing edge will be free to move backwardly and upwardly as it passes through the water. In this way, the blade will provide a reduced surface area to the water during its return stroke.

A generally U-shaped yoke 56 is provided on the crank arm 32. This yoke extends through a helical spring 58 and maintains that spring in assembled relation with the crank arm 32. This spring is so dimensioned that when it is compressed, it will have its turns in registry with each other so they can abut and halt further compression of that spring. The upper end of the yoke 56 is closed and that upper end will thus limit downward movement of the yoke 56 relative to the crank arm 32. An opening in the upper end of the yoke 56 receives the eye of an eye bolt 60. The threaded end of the eye bolt 60 extends through an opening in the inner end of the shank 48, and it receives a wing nut 62. The engagement between the upper end of the yoke 56 and the crank arm 32 limits the movement of the yoke downwardly, and the abutting relation of the turns of the spring 58 limits the upward movement of the yoke 56. As a result, the spring 58 is confined within definite limits of movement. Moreover, the yoke 56 is dimensioned so the spring 53 remains under compression when the yoke 56 has moved down until its upper end engages the crank arm 32. As a result, the spring 58 will be under a predetermined tension in the position shown in Fig. 4 and will be under a heavier predetermined tension when it is fully compressed, as when the yoke 56 is moved upwardly. With this construction, any adjustment in the position of the oar, as by rotating the wing nut 62 relative to the eye bolt 60, will not affect the tension on the spring 58. This is very desirable and is very important because it assures the maintenance of sufficient force on the oar to rotate it upwardly about the horizontally disposed pivot 42. Consequently, no matter how the oar is adjusted, as is often needed in boats having higher gunwales or sloping sides, the same tension will be applied to the oars to raise them toward the surface of the water. There will be a slight difference in the force applied by the oar to the spring 58, because a change in the angle of the our will vary the horizontal distance between the center of gravity of the oar and the vertical axis of the spring 58, but that variation will not be excessive. Consequently, the construction shown in the drawing provides substantially constant bias for the oar, independent of the ad justment of angle of the oar by the wing nut 62.

A pivot bar 64 is provided to confine and guide the pedals of the boat-propelling apparatus of the present invention. Bearing sleeves 66 telescope over the end of the pivot bar 64 and those sleeves are made to be integral with the pedals 68. Each of the pedals 68 has an axially extending slot 70 therein, and each of the pedals is provided with a cap-carrying plate 72. The plates 72 carry resilient caps 74, usually of rubber, to receive and enclose the toes of the shoes of the user of the boat-propelling apparatus of the present invention. A set screw 76 is provided at the forward end of each of the capcarrying plates 72, and those set screws can be actuated to lock the cap-carrying plates 72 in position relative to the pedals 68. In this way, the caps 74 can be made to telescope over the toes of shoes of various lengths. A heel stop 73 is provided at the rear end of the pedals 68, and those heel stops coact with the resilient caps 74 to confine the shoes of the user of the boat-propelling apparatus of the present invention. By having the caps 74 of resilient material, the present invention makes it easy for the fisherman to disengage his feet from the pedals in the event he must quickly stand up or move within the boat in netting or landing a fish. Fasteners 78 which are eye bolts with open ends, are secured to the forward ends of the pedals 68. These fasteners will receive flexible connections, such as the chains 38. Flexible, non-skid protectors 80 are disposed adjacent the bearing sleeves 66 of the pedals 68. These non-skid protectors are preferably made from a fiat sheet of resilient material, such as rubber, which has two openings that receive the ends of the bearing sleeves 66. To assemble the protectors 80 with the bearing sleeves 66, it is only necessary to telescope one of the openings in the protector 80 over one end of the bearing sleeve, and then to stretch the protector 80 until the other opening can be telescoped over the other end of the bearing sleeve 66. Where this is done, the two ends of the non-skid protector will extend upwardly along the ends of the bearing sleeves 66 while the central portion of the protector 80 will underlie the bearing sleeve 66 and protect the bottom of the boat from scarring or'scratching. Fasteners 82, which are split eyes wherein the ends of the eyes overlap each other, are secured to the ends of the pivot bar 64. These fasteners keep the bearing sleeves 66 from becoming separated from the pivot bar 64. In addition, those fasteners can receive flexible connections, such as chains.

A plurality of clamps 84 are provided which can be releasably secured to ribs, struts, or other portions of the boat 10. These clamps have wing bolts that screw pressure plates up against the ribs, struts or other parts of the boat and hold the clamps in position. A chain 86 is secured at each end to the clamps 84 and then is drawn tightly between those clamps and the fasteners 82 on the opposite ends of the pivot bar 64. The intermediate portions of the chain 86 can lie loosely on the bottom of the boat 10. Clamps 88, similar to the clamps 84, are also secured to rib, struts, or other portions of the boat and these clamps have the ends of chain 90 connected to them. The chain 90 then extends tautly between the clamps 88 and the fasteners 82 on the ends of the pivot bar 64. The combined action of clamps 84 and 88 and chains 86 and 90 is to hold the pivot bar 64 fixedly in position relative to the seat of the boat 10. The particular advantage of the chains 86 and 90 over other flexible fasteners is the ability of the chains to permit ready and precise adjustment of the position of the pivot bar 64 relative to the seat of the boat 10. Where desired, the clamps 84 and the chains 86 can be dispensed with; because the force on the pedals 68 is adequately held by the clamps 88 and the chain 90. The clamps 84 and the chain 86 are, however, quite useful in positively holding the pivot bar 64 in position.

To store and transport the boat-propelling apparatus provided by the present invention, it is only necessary to separate one of the fasteners 82 from the pivot bar 64 and then telescope the pedals 68 out of engagement with that pivot bar. Thereafter, it is only necessary to separate the two telescoping portions of each shank 48 of each oar and then insert the various portions of the apparatus in the container. As indicated previously, the parts of this apparatus will fit within a container which is less than two and one-half (2 /2) feet in length and nine inches (9) across. To use the boat-propelling apparatus provided by the present invention, it is only necessary to telescope the pedals 68 over the pivot bar 64, replace the fastener 82, telescope the two sections of each shank 48 together, clamp the brackets 12 to the gunwales of the boat 10, place the pivot bar 64 on the floor of the boat ahead of the seat, connect the chains 38 between the crank arms 32 and the fasteners 78 of the pedals 68, affix the clamps 84 and 88 to the ribs, struts or like parts of the boat 10, and then connect the chains 86 and 90 between the clamps 84 and 88 and the fasteners 82. Thereafter, the user of the boat places himself within the boat and on the seat facing the prow of the boat. He then inserts the toes of his shoes within the resilient caps 74 on the pedals 68 and sets the heels of his shoes against the heel stops 73. Bending of his angles will then cause the pedals 68 to rotate around the pivot bar 64; that bar being held against movement by the chains 86 and 90. Forward movement of the pedals 68 will pull the chains 38 and apply forces to the crank arms 32. In response to those forces, the pivots 28 will rotate and carry the oars rearwardly through the arcs indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1. In passing through these arcs, the leading edges of the blades 50 will be caused to move downwardly into the water until limited against further movement in that direction by the abutting of the turns of the spring 58.

The spring 58 is dimensioned so the blades can move completely down into the water. If the oars do not naturally fall into a position where the lower edges thereof are in the water, the wing nut 62 will be used to adjust the angle of the oars so the lower edges of the oars are in the water in the normal resting position of the oars. Because they move downwardly into the water as they pass through the driving stroke, the blades 50 provide full application of force to the water.

When the cars reach the ends of their driving strokes, there will no longer be a component of force urging the blades 50 downwardly into the water, and thereupon the spring 58 will pull the inner ends of the shanks 48 downwardly and raise the blades 50 to the surface of the water. As previously indicated, the blades will be set so at least a part of the lower edges thereof will always remain in the water. However, the major portion of the blades 50 will be out of the water when the spring 58 is in the position shown in Fig. 1.

In moving from the position shown in Fig. 1 to the position indicated by the dotted lines projecting rearwardly from the brackets 12 in Fig. l, the boat-propelling apparatus of the present invention stored a considerable amount of energy in the helical springs 46. To utilize this energy in restoring the oars to the position shown by solid lines in Fig. 1, the fisherman need only bend his ankles upwardly away from the bottom of the boat. Thereafter, the springs 46 will be free to rotate the oars to the position shown in solid lines in Fig. 1. As the blades 50 move forwardly, they will rotate around the brackets 54 and will have their trailing edges lifted to the surface of the water. This minimizes the drag on the boat 10. Application of force to the pedals 68 will start the oars through their driving strokes once again. To keep the boat moving, it is only necessary for the fisherman to recurrently bend his ankles so his feet move toward and away from the bottom of the boat. This is an easy motion and requires surprisingly little force.

Where the pivot bar 64 is set at a comfortable distance from the seat of the boat, it is quite easy to propel the boat along with the boat-propelling apparatus of the present invention. In tests that have been made on this boat-propelling apparatus, the boat has been moved along for periods of two hours without undue tiring of the user. Moreover, tests have shown that with twenty (20) strokes a minute, of which ten (10) are made with each foot, the boat was moved one hundred and twenty (120) feet per minute. Such a speed is quite adequate for casting and trolling operations. Openings in the inner ends of the shanks 48 are considerably larger than the diameters of the eye bolts 60. In addition, there is no shoulder or stop on the eye bolt above the eye itself. Consequently, the shank 48 of the oar can rotate around the pivot 42 a considerable distance before the inner end of the shank 48 strikes the eye of the eye bolt 60. This constitutes a lost-motion connection between the oar and the propelling mechanism which is of great advantage in case the oar shoals. When the oar does shoal, it will be able to rise upwardly without upsetting the boat.

If the user of the boat desires slow movement of the boat with minimum effort by him, he can set the spring 46 with its lower end in the rearmost notch 26 of the hearing plate 24. With such an arrangement, he can obtain leisurely movement of the boat with minimum effort by him. On the other hand, where more rapid movement of the boat is desired, and the user is willing to press a little harder with his feet, the lower end of the spring 46 will be set in the forwardmost notch 26. In this way, the desired tension on the spring 46 and the desired rate of movement of the boat can be attained.

With the boat-propelling apparatus provided by the present invention, the user can make full strokes with the oars or can make partial strokes merely by regulating the angle through which his ankles bend. Moreover, the user need only let one foot remain stationary while he uses the other to obtain ready steering of the boat. To reverse the movement of the boat, the user need only force the paddles down into the water and then push. When all of the blade is in the water, there will be no tendency of the blade to rotate. At the end of each pushing stroke, the blade will then be lifted up out of the water, moved backwardly and then again forced into the water preparatory to the pushing stroke.

Whereas a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made in the form of the invention without affecting the scope thereof.

What I claim is:

1. Apparatus that facilitates the easy locomotion of a boat and that comprises a pair of oars, one of said oars being at one side of said boat and the other of said oars being at the opposite side of said boat, a pair of supports for said oars that have substantially horizontally disposed axes and substantially vertically disposed axes, one of said supports being at said one side of said boat and the other of said supports being at said opposite side of said boat, said oars being pivotable about said substantially horizontally disposed axes, said oars being pivotable about said substantially vertically disposed axes, springs biasing said oars for pivoting about said vertically disposed axes to return position, additional springs biasing said oars for upward pivoting about said horizontally disposed axes, pedals, and connectors that are secured to said pedals and are movable to pivot said oars about said vertically directed axes, said oars having the blades thereof inclined to the vertical so the lower edges thereof are the leading edges thereof during the driving strokes of said oars, said pedals being movable to pivot said oars about said vertically disposed axes through the driving strokes of said oars, said additional springs yielding to permit said oars to pivot downwardly about said horizontally disposed axes during the said driving strokes of said oars and restoring themselves to pivot said oars upwardly about said horizontally disposed axes toward the surface of the water during the return strokes of said oars.

2. Apparatus that facilitates the easy locomotion of a boat and that comprises a pair of oars, one of said oars being at one side of said boat and the other of said oars being at the opposite side of said boat, a pair of supports for said oars that have substantially horizontally disposed axes and substantially vertically disposed axes, one of said supports being at said one side of said boat and the other of said supports being at said opposite side of said boat, said oars being pivotable about said substantially horizontally disposed axes, said oars being pivotable about said substantially vertically disposed axes, springs biasing said oars for pivoting about said vertically disposed axes to return position, additional springs biasing said oars for upward pivoting about said horizontally disposed axes, pedals, connectors that are secured to said pedals and are movable to pivot said oars about said vertically directed axes, said oars having the blades thereof inclined to the vertical so the lower edges thereof are the leading edges thereof during the driving strokes of said oars, said pedals being movable to pivot said oars about said vertically disposed axes through the driving strokes of said oars, said additional springs yielding to permit said oars to pivot downwardly about said horizontally disposed axes during the said driving strokes of said oars and restoring themselves to pivot said oars upwardly about said horizontally disposed axes toward the surface of the water during the return strokes of said oars, and adjustable links extending between said additional springs and said oars, said links being adjustable to vary the initial setting of said oars.

3. Apparatus that facilitates the easy locomotion of a boat and that comprises a pair of oars, one of said oars being at one side of said boat and the other of said oars being at the opposite side of said boat, a pair of supports for said oars that have substantially horizontally disposed axes and substantially vertically disposed axes, one of said supports being at said one side of said boat and the other of said supports being at said opposite side of said boat, said oars being pivotable about said substantially horizontally disposed axes, said oars being pivotable about said substantially vertically disposed axes, springs biasing said oars for pivoting about said vertically disposed axes to return position, additional springs biasing said oars for upward pivoting about said horizontally disposed axes, pedals, connectors that are secured to said pedals and are movable to pivot said oars about said vertically directed axes, said oars having the blades thereof inclined to the vertical so the lower edges thereof are the leading edges thereof during the driving strokes of said oars. said pedals being movable to pivot said oars about said vertically disposed axes through the driving strokes of said oars, said additional springs yielding to permit said oars to pivot downwardly about said horizontally disposed axes during the said driving strokes of said oars and restoring themselves to pivot said oars upwardly about said hori zontally disposed axes toward the surface of the water during the return strokes of said oars, and stops limiting upward pivoting of said oars about said horizontally disposed axes.

4. Apparatus that facilitates the easy locomotion of a boat and that comprises a pair of oars, one of said oars being at one side of said boat and the other of said oars being at the opposite side of said boat, a pair of supports for said oars that have substantially horizontally disposed axes and substantially vertically disposed axes, one of said supports being at said one side of said boat and the other of said supports being at said opposite side of said boat, said oars being pivotable about said substantially horizontally disposed axes, said oars being pivotable about said substantially vertically disposed axes, springs biasing said oars for pivoting about said vertically disposed axes to return position, additional springs biasing said oars for upward pivoting about said horizontally disposed axes, pedals, connectors that are secured to said pedals and are movable to pivot said oars about said vertically directed axes, said oars having the blades thereof inclined to the vertical so the lower edges thereof are the leading edges thereof during the driving strokes of said oars, said pedals being movable to pivot said oars about said vertically disposed axes through the driving strokes of said oars, said additional springs yielding to permit said oars to pivot downwardly about said horizontally disposed axes during the said driving strokes of said oars and restoring themselves to pivot said oars upwardly about said horizontally disposed axes toward the surface of the water during the return strokes of said oars, adjustable linkages extending between said additional springs and said oars, and stops limiting upward pivoting of oars about said horizontally disposed axes, said links being adjustable to vary the initial setting of said oars.

5. Apparatus that facilitates easy locomotion of a boat and that comprises a pair of oars, one of said oars being at one side of said boat and the other of said oars being at the opposite side of said boat, a pair of supports for said oars that have substantially horizontally disposed axes and substantially vertically disposed axes, one of said supports being at said one side of said boat and the other of said supports being at said opposite side of said boat, said oars being pivotable about said substantially horizontally disposed axes, said oars being pivotable about said substantially vertically disposed axes, pedals, and connectors extending between said pedals and said supports. said pedals being movable to pivot said oars about said vertically disposed axes through the driving strokes of said oars, and lost 'motion connections between said connectors and said oars that enable said oars to freely pivot upwardly about said substantially horizontally disposed axes if they shoal.

6. Apparatus that facilitates easy locomotion of a boat and that comprises a pair of oars, one of said oars being at one side of said boat and the other of said oars being at the opposite side of said boat, a pair of supports for said oars that have substantially horizontally disposed axes and substantially vertically disposed axes, one of said supports being at said one side of said boat and the other of said supports being at said opposite side of said boat, said oars being pivotable about said substantially horizontally disposed axes, said oars being pivotable about said substantially vertically disposed axes, springs biasing said oars and said supports for pivoting about said vertically disposed axes, additional springs biasing said oars for upward pivoting about said horizontally disposed axes, pedals, and connectors extending between said pedals and said supports.

7. Apparatus that facilitates the easy locomotion of a boat and that comprises a pair of oars, one of said oars being at one side of said boat and the other of said oars being at the opposite side of said boat, a pair of supports for said oars that have substantially horizontally disposed axes and substantially vertically disposed axes, one of said supports being at said one side of said boat and the other of said supports being at said opposite side of said boat, said oars being pivotable about said substantially horizontally disposed axes. said oars being pivotable about said substantially vertically disposed axes, springs biasing said oars for pivoting about said vertically disposed axes to return position, additional springs biasing said oars for upward pivoting about said horizontally disposed axes, pedals, connectors that are secured to said pedals and are movable to pivot said oars about said vertically directed axes, said oars having the blades thereof inclined to the vertical so the lower edges thereof are the leading edges thereof during the driving strokes of said oars, said pedals being movable to pivot said oars about said vertically disposed axes through the driving strokes of said oars, said additional springs yielding to permit said oars to pivot downwardly about said horizontally disposed axes during the said driving strokes of said oars and restoring themselves to pivot said oars upwardly about said horizontally disposed axes toward the surface of the water during the return strokes of said oars, adjustable linkages extending between said additional spring and said oars, stops limiting upward pivoting of oars about said horizontally disposed axes, said links being adjustable to vary the initial setting of said oars, and lost motion connections between said links and said oars whereby said oars can pivot upwardly freely if they shoal.

8. Apparatus that facilitates easy locomotion of a boat and that comprises a plurality of oars, one of said oars being at one side of said boat and the other of said oars being at the opposite side of said boat, a pair of supports for said oars that have substantially vertically disposed axes, said oars being rotatable about vertically disposed axes, one of said supports being at said one side of said boat and the other of said supports being at said opposite side of said boat, pedals, connectors that extend between said pedals and said supports, and pivots intermediate the shanks and blades of said oars, said pivots being spaced above said shanks but below the top edges of said blades whereby said blades readily tilt upwardly.

9. Apparatus that facilitates easy locomotion of a boat and that comprises a pair of oars, one of said oars being at one side of said boat and the other of said oars being at the opposite side of said boat, a pair of supports for said oars that have substantially horizontally disposed axes and substantially vertically disposed axes, one of said supports being at said one side of said boat and the other of said supports being at said opposite side of said boat, said oars being pivotable about said substantially horizontally disposed axes, said oars being pivotable about said substantially vertically disposed axes, pedals, and connectors extending between said pedals and said supports, said pedals being movable to pivot said oars about said vertically disposed axes through the driving strokes of said oars, lost motion connections between said connectors and said oars that enable said oars to freely pivot upwardly about said substantially horizontally disposed axes if they shoal, springs biasing said oars for pivoting upward about said horizontally disposed axes, and pivots intermediate the shanks and blades of said oars, said pivots being spaced above said shanks but below the top edges of said blades whereby said blades readily tilt upwardly.

10. Apparatus that facilitates easy locomotion of a boat and that comprises a pair of oars, one of said oars being at one side of said boat and the other of said oars being at the opposite side of said boat, a pair of supports for said oars that have substantially horizontally disposed axes and substantially vertically disposed axes, one of said supports being at said one side of said boat and the other of said supports being at said opposite side of said boat, said oars being pivotable about said substantially horizontally disposed axes, said oars being pivotable about said substantially vertically disposed axes, springs biasing said oars and said supports for pivoting about said vertically disposed axes, additional springs biasing said oars for upward pivoting about said horizontally disposed axes, pedals, connectors extending between said pedals and said supports, said additional springs being of limited compressibility, to limit pivoting of said oars.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 530,519 Harbers Dec. 11, 1894 635,951 Anderson Oct. 31, 1899 849,533 Dziedzic Apr. 9, 1907 923,945 Chaussinand June 8, 1909 1,197,239 Sinclair Sept. 5, 1916 1,372,752 Holmes Mar. 29, 1921 1,737,899 Taylor Dec. 3, 1929 2,097,931 Martin Nov. 2, 1937 2,525,349 Gulley Oct. 10, 1950 2,540,576 Goodhue et al Feb. 6, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 47,762 France Apr. 6, 1937 (1st Addition to No. 802,000) 803,249 France June 29, 1936 934,707 France May 31, 1948 

